Building of the new Hall

Progress has slipped somewhat of late. I was warned by those who had experience of builders that the completion date given can be subject to “slippage”, but there have been some days when work has not been happening that we have been promised. The result is that I have fired a rocket off (metaphorically!!) and given the builders a completion date of 28th September at the latest as Bishop Andrew is coming on the 29th to Bless it.

During the past week the type of roof tiles have been approved by the Planning Officer - this matter has been a major cause of the delay, and would you believe even though all the tiles will be fired from the same batch of clay he now wants to see samples of the ridge and corner-ridge tiles. He also wants to see a "browner" version of the stone facing so that he can make sure we have got the colour right. One person commented to me that it was like living in the Third Reich!

As you will see, from the photo's below, the roofing “felt” and initial batons have been affixed to the roof. “Felt” is technically the wrong term as what has been used is a new material that allows air to flow through it, but not moisture. It is much lighter than traditional roofing felt and yet it is also reinforced thus making it stronger. Now that the type of tiles has been approved they can be ordered and once they arrive the remaining batons will be affixed and then the addition of the tiles will finish the roof structure. Once that has taken place the scaffolding will come down and the stone facing will be affixed to the block-work.

There was also a problem with the type of windows that the Building Regulations Officer was required to insist on. Essentially there was a conflict between the regulations that are currently required on new buildings with regard to double glazing and the Planning Officers’ guidelines for listed buildings and conservation. The glazing visible from the street has to be leaded lights as the rest of the church, but to do this and have a second panel of glass on the interior to form a double glazed unit would have led to condensation between the two. At the time of going to print it looks as if this is resolved in favour of single-glazed leaded light units. This makes the manufacture of the windows much easier and less expensive and solves the problem that double glazed units would have led to.

The carpenter has been preparing for the plasterer to arrive and the electrician has been on site starting the “first fit.” The heating engineers have been on site preparing for the installation of the heating system and boiler for the new hall and vestry wing, and the reconnection of the existing church heating system.